𝕿𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝕮𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖒𝖆𝖘; 𝕾𝖍𝖔𝖕 𝕾𝖒𝖆𝖑𝖑

Aaaaand so it begins. Here we are, in November, where the year went I do not know.

We are all struggling, all of us. 2020 has been unkind to most. But I cannot stress the importance of shopping small this festive season.  

Whatever is on your Christmas list, craft beers, phone cases, gift hampers, face masks… You can get more for your money by shopping small this winter. I love the rare finds and unusual things that you can find just by shopping with smaller companies who have less overheads and more creative direction. 

From candles to cosmetics, personalised gifting to nail technicians who work from their homes, Instagram businesses to small high street stores; everyone’s finances have been hit this year by the need to stay at home, the lack of foot-fall or redundancies and furlough, meaning that people are spending less and thrifting more. 

There are some companies who realistically, will not survive the year, without substantial support. This is not to say, don’t buy from your favourite big wigs. This is to say, do your research. Get better gifts, made locally and keep people like you and me above the breadline. This also keeps bigger companies on their toes; if small companies are selling good cosmetics, good skincare, great artisan gins for a fair price, why would large companies who manufacture the same products settle for harmful ingredients or hike up their prices for the exact same amount of product? Keeping small businesses going makes the market better for consumers as competition drives prices down and keeps companies trying to do the best for their customers. Plus, we are less likely to get bumped in the long run.  

I am going to give you 2 easy examples of where I will be making my ethical ‘shop small’ changes to my Christmas lists to help smaller business and the local high street. 

DAD: 

My dad mainly eats, drinks and uses fresh organic produce… unless it is shortbread. That, he will take from just about anyone and anywhere. But normally, from sandwiches to skincare, he will stick to natural products and natural remedies for his daily life.  It is things like organic butters and lotions, home fragrance and gift food which is easy peasy to locate right here in the UK and therefore to shop small.

Instead of the usual duchy organics hamper from Waitrose this year (they will still be gracing my table with turkey, lamb and all the trimmings), I will be swapping for a natural, more local, organic alternative. Please check out next weeks’ 𝕹𝖆𝖙𝖚𝖗𝖆𝖑 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕺𝖗𝖌𝖆𝖓𝖎𝖈 𝕲𝖎𝖋𝖙 𝕲𝖚𝖎𝖉𝖊 for my purse-friendly and ethical swap.

SISTER: 

My sis is my best friend. She is my biggest supporter and deserves the world! We always used to head to beauty expos together and multiple shopping trips to new cities throughout the year. From Clothes Show Live (Birmingham) to the Curve Fashion Festival (Liverpool) and Olympia Beauty (London). We were always shopaholics, but, together. This year, I wanted to treat her to some beauty buys and hair care that we missed out on at all the shows which we would have attended. Instead of shopping from the usual large companies though, I have tried to make some straight swaps to support smaller businesses. This can benefit my pocket as well as support local, UK business. 

Check out my 𝕮𝖚𝖗𝖑𝖞 𝕲𝖎𝖗𝖑 𝕲𝖎𝖋𝖙 𝕲𝖚𝖎𝖉𝖊 and 𝕭𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝕺𝖜𝖓𝖊𝖉 𝕭𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖘 𝕲𝖎𝖋𝖙 𝕲𝖚𝖎𝖉𝖊 which will be up on the blog throughout the end of November and December for the swaps I have made to treat her and keep some small businesses going this year.

All in all, this means shopping and helping…all rolled into one. It feels good. Real good. Remember to subscribe to my Youtube channel and follow me on IG where I will be showcasing many of the brands which I am recommending over the next few weeks!

If you are a brand, whatever your niche, based in the UK, female owned, black owned, POC owned and would like to be featured in my recommendations on Youtube, this blog or my Instagram, please get in touch! I would love to hear from you.

xTx